Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Despite promises of progress, the City of Windhoek’s (CoW) initiative to reduce the municipal debt of pensioners, the local authority has encountered delays in its implementation.
To date, the CoW has written off a total of N$55.7 million across 13 372 accounts.
“The pensioner debt write-off has commenced in batches, with nearly 3,000 pensioners already registered. Specifically for pensioners, there will be a 100% write-off on both the capital and interest on debt. This benefit will apply to 26 118 pensioners, with a total monetary value of N$223 million. Other residents will also benefit from a 50% write-off on interest,” said CoW online communication officer Lydia Shifa.
She said the installation of prepaid water meters l for advancing debt cancellations faces setbacks.
“The installation of prepaid water meters has not yet begun due to stock shortages. The meters have been out of stock since November 2023. The city has ordered new stock and is waiting for it to arrive,” Shifa said.
Despite paying the required amounts for debt write-offs, some residents still receive invoices.
The CoW clarified that active accounts receiving municipal services will continue to receive statements.
“Residents will receive account statements as long as their accounts remain active and they are receiving municipal services. Additionally, some accounts may show balances that were written off if the application was received close to the billing cycle, which reflects our ongoing process of debt cancellation based on the timing of received applications,” she said.
Last week, Shaun Gariseb, representing the Katutura Residents Committee (KRC), raised concerns over the effectiveness of the debt relief programme.
“They asked the pensioners to apply for debt write-offs, which they started to do in March. They wrote off the debts, and people got into the same debt again,” Gariseb said.
He highlighted instances where reconnection of water services led to recurring debts, exacerbating financial strain on residents.
Gariseb further pointed out that CoW’s conditions required residents to pay current amounts for three months following the write-off announcement.
“They can’t write off the debts because the households don’t have water meters. Now they are telling people to keep paying the agreed amount,” he added, stressing that KRC’s pressure led to the adoption of the initiative.
Earlier this year, the Windhoek City Council pledged a write-off of all municipal debts and accrued interest for pensioners aged 60 and above.
This decision, which was announced during engagements with KRC and CoW, aimed to relieve financial pressures faced by elderly residents.
